Board Games and Card Games

Mah jongg has evolved from the ancient Chinese game that old people play. This game has a colorful and interesting history that players may not be too familiar. Nevertheless, a lot of people around the world have been creating new varieties of mah jongg as more and more people are starting to play mah jongg. This game originally from china involves skill, luck and yes, even intelligence.

Mah jongg is commonly played by four players. But it can be played by two to five people. There are usually 16 hands being played. These 16 hands are played in four rounds. Each round has a name. The names are after directions so east, then south, west and then north. This is determined by the dice. The direction you are in would determine who will play first.

After this, you have to build a wall. You arrange the tiles in 18 stacks. The stacks are broken down and tiles are given to all the players. Each player would have 13 tiles. The rest will be left in the wall that is in the middle.

And then, every one of the players would discard the tiles and get from the wall. You need to get 4 sets and a pair of tiles. The set would refer to the sequence of three in a row that come from the same suit. This is called a chow. The chow is similar to the mini straight flush in poker. If you get three of a kind, it is called a pung. If you get four of a kind, that is a kong. If a player gets four sets and a pair, the game will end. If no one wins and yet the wall is gone, it is considered a draw.

There are certain rules that are being used during international competitions as there are championships around the world. It has already become an international sport. The rules were first set in 2002 when the first world championship was organized. Before joining one, of course, make sure you have understood each rule in the competition since this will be the start of winning the game.

In the present, mah jongg is entering the world. Through the decades, more people are getting interested in playing this game. Many gamble for fun and as a sport. It has become a part of pop culture as even youngsters are learning how to play it. Pick up the tiles and start playing.

In playing this game, however, it is always important to impose self-discipline as it can also ruin you as a person. The rule of thumb for everything is taking things in moderation, anyway.